Visible-light driven photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B by Ag/Bi2WO6 heterostructures

Ag/Bi2WO6 photocatalysts with different silver loadings were synthesized by hydrothermal process and the reduction of silver by sonochemistry. XRD, TEM and XPS revealed the presence of Ag nanoparticles deposited on orthorhombic Bi2WO6 square nanoplates. The photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) by Ag/Bi2WO6 nanocomposites under visible irradiation showed that the deposited Ag nanoparticles greatly improved the photocatalytic efficiency comparing to pure Bi2WO6 nanocrystallites, with 10wt% Ag/Bi2WO6 at the highest. [Display omitted] •Ag/Bi2WO6 as nanocomposites.•They were successfully synthesized by a hydrothermal-sonochemistry combination.•Ag nanoparticles on Bi2WO6 nanoplates promoted photocatalysis of the nanocomposites.•The promising materials for waste water treatment.